Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 19 July 1797
Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch
Philadelphia July 19 1797—
my dear sisters
If the Compass by which my course is directed does not vary again through unavoidable necessity I shall sit out for Quincy next week. we shall probably be 12 days in comeing. I shall want some preparation at Home. I will write to you from N york.1 Betsy wrote to her Mother to know if her sister Nancy was at home & that I should want her during my stay at Quincy2
The Hot weather of july has weakend us all. complaints of the Bowels are very frequent and troublesome. I received your Letter of 13 yesterday I have suspected unfair dealings in the post office for some time, tho I cannot say where the fault is. as to the Girls Letters I believe they were foolish enough to send them without any Frank. I received a Letter yesterday from your Son who was well, and expected, to come to Philadelphia soon on buisness.3 I fear I shall be away, but I shall write him to come & put up at the House the same as if we were here
Let mrs Porter know that I should be glad she would have mrs Bass to clean up the House I hope it will be white washd first— the post will be gone if I do not close—
yours affectionatly
A A
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); addressed: “Mrs Mary Cranch / Quincy”; endorsed by Richard Cranch: “Letter from Mrs / A: Adams (Pha:) / July 19. 1797.”
1. JA and AA left Philadelphia on 24 July and arrived in Quincy on 5 Aug. after spending time with CA and his family in New York City and visiting AA2 in Eastchester, N.Y., where they picked up William Steuben Smith and John Adams Smith (Philadelphia Southwark Gazette, 25 July; AA to Cranch, 29 July; AA to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 12 Aug., both below).
2. Nancy Howard (b. 1779) was the sister of Betsy Howard and Polly Doble Howard Baxter ().
3. William Cranch to AA, 12 July, above.